Vera twisted mid-air as she descended, her blade spinning like a silver drill.

Lunar Rift Spiral cut straight toward Rhys.

Rhys crossed his sword and pushed mana into it—

"Warpath Overdrive!"

His aura exploded outward.

Strength, speed, and reaction time all surged at once.

He charged straight into her spiraling slash.

BOOOOM!!!

Their blades collided—

Sparks flew in every direction.

The Spiral pushed him back half a step…

But Rhys held.

Vera blinked in surprise.

"You blocked it head-on?!"

Rhys answered with a push of his own.

"Not blocking—

countering."

He swung in a heavy arc.

"Titanic Renewal — Force Crash!"

A massive burst of raw physical power erupted from the swing, shaking the arena again.

Vera had to retreat in a blur of silver.

But Rhys didn't stop.

He chased instantly.

"Ghost Edge Step — Triple Trace!"

His form flickered three times—

He appeared on her left—

her right—

then directly above.

He swung downward.

Vera gritted her teeth.

"Not enough!"

She crossed both swords and slashed upward in a silver X.

"Moonshadow — Crescent Tear!"

The two attacks collided, creating another blast of pressure.

Rhys landed and jumped back just in time to avoid her follow-up stab.

The ground where he had been standing cracked open like thin ice.

Vera twisted and pointed her blade at him.

"Your power… it's insane.

But can you keep up with this speed?"

She vanished again.

Rhys didn't panic.

He whispered:

"Arcane Tempest — Pulse Sense."

A ring of faint mana spread around him like a motion detector.

The moment Vera reappeared—

he turned instantly.

"Left!"

He slashed.

Vera's eyes widened.

"You read my movement—?!"

"Yeah."

His sword almost hit her neck—

she barely ducked.

She retaliated with a sharp kick to his ribs.

THUD!

Rhys staggered, but didn't fall.

Instead, he grabbed her kicked leg—

and swung her like a hammer.

WHAM!!

She crashed into the ground and rolled away, panting.

The audience exploded in screams.

Aria yelled,

"RHYSSSSSS!! SMASH HER!!"

Sophia cupped her hands,

"KEEP PRESSURE!! DON'T LET HER RESET!!"

Lyra shouted,

"Careful! She still has more!"

Puddle screamed louder than all of them,

"MASTER BREAK GROUND BUT NOT ELF LADY'S HEAD!!!"

Vera stood up slowly.

A thin line of blood ran down her lip.

Her eyes glowed brighter.

"…Okay.

Now I'm angry."

She stabbed her sword into the ground—

A silver wave blasted outward.

"Nightfall Form — Full Release!!"

Her body became completely coated in lunar light.

Her speed doubled—

then tripled.

She blasted forward like a silver comet.

Rhys braced.

His aura of darkness thickened.

"Ruinous Darkness — Stage 2!"

The ground cracked beneath him as his power multiplied again.

Vera appeared in front of him in less than a blink.

"Take THIS—!!"

She slashed.

Rhys caught her blade with his bare hand—

Void energy swirling over his skin.

Her eyes widened.

"You CAUGHT it?!"

He grinned slightly.

"Got stronger too."

He punched forward.

"Decay Pulse Strike!!"

A dark shockwave erupted from his fist.

Vera flew backward, flipping in the air, but forced herself to land on her feet.

She wiped blood off her chin, smiling fiercely.

"You're completely insane.

I love this."

Rhys pointed his sword at her.

"Come on."

She didn't hesitate.

She charged again—

but this time, Rhys moved even faster.

He swung—

"Arc Surge Slash — Twin Volt!"

A double crescent of lightning shot toward her.

Vera cut through them—

but the lightning paralyzed her arms for a split second.

Rhys took advantage.

He rushed in.

"Steamburst Edge — Internal Shock!"

He slashed point-blank.

Steam detonated inside the strike.

BOOOM!

Vera was thrown across the arena, sliding through cracked tiles.

She coughed out a breath, panting hard now.

Rhys walked toward her, sword raised.

"Still want to continue?"

She laughed through her exhaustion.

"Rhys…

If you stop before me,

I'll kill you."

She rose, shaking, raising her blade.

"Nightfall Form—

Last Dance: Moon End Sever."

Rhys raised his sword too.

"Ruinous Darkness—

Final Release."

The entire arena darkened and brightened at once.

Vera dashed.

Rhys lunged.

Their strongest attacks collided—

KAAAAAAAA-THOOOOOOOM!!!

A giant explosion engulfed the center of the arena.

Dust flew everywhere.

Stone cracked and melted.

Spectators screamed and shielded themselves.

For ten whole seconds…

nothing could be seen.

Only light.

Only noise.

Only destruction.

When the dust finally cleared—

Two figures still stood.

Barely.

Vera's sword was cracked.

Rhys's armor was broken.

They stared at each other, panting heavily.

One last move left.

One final clash.

Vera whispered,

"…last strike?"

Rhys nodded.

"Last strike."

Both raised their weapons—

Both auras flared one last time—

And they charged—

They sprinted toward each other with everything they had left—no tricks, no holding back, no defense.

Just raw force.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

Their final attacks collided in the center of the arena, erupting in a shockwave so massive it shattered the last intact pillars. The ground rippled outward like water.

For a split second—both fighters were frozen in the clash, blades locked, auras detonating in bursts of silver and black.

Vera's voice trembled with effort.

"Rhys— you—!"

Rhys pushed back just as hard.

"Not— losing—!!"

Cracks spread across the ground beneath them.

Their feet dug trenches through the stone.

Vera's blade trembled.

Rhys's sword hummed with unstable mana.

Then—

A tiny crack appeared in Vera's sword.

PING!

Vera's eyes widened.

"No—!"

Rhys roared.

"END—!!"

His final burst of mana shot downward through his legs, up through his core, and into his arms—

He pushed.

Vera's blade snapped in half.

Her aura shattered.

And she was launched backward like a fired cannonball.

She flew across the arena—

SLAM!!

Her back hit a half-collapsed pillar, cracking it clean in two.

Dust exploded around the impact.

Silence.

Rhys, breathing like a furnace, staggered one step…

Two steps…

His knees buckled—

But he caught himself with his sword, refusing to fall.

Vera lay on her back, staring up at the ruined arena ceiling.

She blinked.

Then she laughed softly, breathless.

"…okay… okay… you win…"

The crowd froze—

Then erupted.

Aria practically launched into the air.

"HE DID IT!!"

Sophia screamed,

"THAT WAS A FINAL-BOSS FIGHT!!"

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